When it comes to appetizers, Mac and Cheese Cups are the stars of the night.
I may have something to confess, I have a little addiction for mac and cheese. Yes, the cheesy melty homemade one. For me, it’s comfort food at its finest and there’s nothing else that can be better than that.
And with the holiday season quickly approaching and all the parties, gatherings and get together that are around the corner, I was brainstorming for some appetizer ideas. The thing is I have a couple of requirements, it needs to be something easy, it needs to be a total mind blowing crowd favorite, and it needs to be made with things that I already have on hand or I normally use (because nothing is worst than having to purchase something you never use and then having leftovers).
And after countless hours of Pinterest in the name of research I was not quite there yet. Sure I found some delicious ideas, but nothing like what I was looking for. That’s when it hit me: Mac and Cheese Cups! So I went to the kitchen, tested a couple of recipes, did a couple of tweaks, ran a taste test with family and some neighbors to make sure, and then cooked some more. The result is this mind blowing good recipe that’s not only incredibly delicious but also completely fool proof. It’s also party ready so what else can a girl ask for?
The recipe is incredibly easy to follow and straightforward I could spend my day saying that but seriously, check it out. There aren’t a lot of ingredients. There are definitely no crazy steps and there are no secrets. Once your cups are done you can also top them with some bacon, or add some grated cheese on top but all in all, they are delicious on their own.
You’ll also love these Air Fryer Mozzarella Balls or Olive Cheese Balls.
Guest post by Ana at Carmela POP.
Mac and Cheese Cups
Comfort food in a cup! The perfect cozy, cheesy side dish, but handheld for appetizers and tailgating.
Ingredients
- 2 cups macaroni noodles, uncooked
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon dried Parsley, for garnish, optional
Crumb topping
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Grease a mini muffin pan and set aside.
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Set aside.
- Add 2 tablespoons salted butter to a saucepan over medium low heat. Once melted, add stir in flour. Cook for two minutes, stirring constantly.
- Stir in milk and cook until the mixture thickens up again. Stir in cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. You can add more milk if you find the mixture too thick.
- Remove from heat and add to cooked macaroni. Stir to combine. Add eggs and stir to combine.
- Fill the mini muffin pan with the macaroni mixture right to the top.
- In a small bowl, stir together breadcrumbs, melted butter and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle on top of mac and cheese cups.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan before attempting to remove them. You might need to loosen them with a butter knife if they don't come out easily. Sprinkle parsley on top, if desired.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 60Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 77mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 3g
Sandra Watts says
I ought to give these a try. I bet my family would love them.
Mary Babiez says
These look crazy good! I too am a fanatic for mac-n-cheese. Thanks for sharing. Adding this to my Pin board!
Linda H says
These look so good and easy to make.
Leslie says
Can these be made in regular muffin tins and if yes, does it change the baking time?
Stacie says
Hi Leslie,
Yes, you can. I found the baking time to be the same, but they were a little more tricky to get out of the muffin tin. Just make sure you grease the pan well so they don’t stick. Let them cool a good 10 to 15 minutes so they’ll hold better.